Our work in Colombia

NHRF's Colombia Office

The Norwegian Human Rights Fund (NHRF) has worked for three decades in Colombia through direct financial support for human rights advocacy, networking and capacity building. This work has also been supported through communications, advocacy and the development of strategic alliances in the Andean country.

During 2022, the NHRF's portfolio in Colombia has grown to more than 70 signed agreements. Of these, 23 of the selected agreements are in the Forest, Environment and Human Rights programme, and the organisations leading these initiatives work on or include in their work: combating deforestation, contributing to more sustainable forest management for the protection of forests, defending territorial, environmental and ethnic rights, and improving the livelihoods of ethnic and local communities.

In the Peace and Human Rights programme the number continues to grow with 34 agreements signed that focus on or include in their work the protection of human rights defenders and the right to defend human rights, the promotion of peace and access to justice, and the defence of land and territorial rights.

Colombia is a key country for the Norwegian Human Rights Fund, and for this reason it is important to highlight that during 2022 we will continue to explore the possibility of having new partnerships and agreements signed in both programmes in order to promote human rights in the Andean country in the coming years.

Articles and updates

Defending and Protecting life, Territories, Nature and Human Rights as a response to the Climate Crisis

Last year was the warmest on record, with climate change indicators reaching unprecedented levels. Despite being the most affected by its impacts, ethnic peoples and local communities raise proposals for how to handle this crisis.

Raising voices against human rights violations related to the mining industry

Communities in Asia, Latin America, and other parts of the world, are under constant pressure from the mining industry, which often undermines indigenous communities and threatens their livelihood. The NHRF has grantee partners in different continents working with communities affected by this and shares their perspectives and experiences in this article.

What it takes to preserve the rainforest

When global leaders gather at the Oslo Tropical Forest Forum, there needs to be a focus on human rights. Efforts to preserve the tropical forest will only succeed if local communities, indigenous peoples' organisations and local organisations help to set the agenda and receive support for forest conservation in their own areas.